Senate 39

SENATE RESOLUTION 39

(By Senators Grady and Jeffries)

[Introduced February 13, 2026]

Recognizing the West Virginia Area Health Education Centers for their outstanding contributions to the health care workforce development in West Virginia.

Whereas, West Virginia Area Health Education Centers have served the State of West Virginia for 25 years; and

Whereas, The Area Health Education Centers program was developed by Congress in 1971 to recruit, train, and retain a health professions workforce committed to medically underserved populations; and

Whereas, The mission of West Virginia Area Health Education Centers is to improve the health of our communities by developing an interprofessional workforce prepared to address the health needs of rural and medically underserved communities of West Virginia; and

Whereas, West Virginia Area Health Education Centers engage students in grades 9-12 to expose and recruit high school students to health careers, consistently serving over 1,400 students each year; and 

Whereas, West Virginia Area Health Education Centers provide opportunities for health professional trainees with clinical experiences in community-based settings by engaging hundreds of West Virginia students across dozens of medically underserved and rural communities; and 

Whereas, West Virginia Area Health Education Centers promote the optimal use of the health care workforce to improve the quality of care delivered through interprofessional collaboration by providing interdisciplinary training opportunities to over 100 health professions trainees across all health care disciplines; and

Whereas, West Virginia Area Health Education Centers strengthen the existing health care workforce in rural and medically underserved areas to support the retention of community-based health professionals by partnering to provide continuing education to nearly 1,000 health care providers; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate hereby recognizes the West Virginia Area Health Education Centers for their outstanding contributions to the health care workforce development in West Virginia; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Senate recognizes the 25-year commitment of WV Area Health Education Centers; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the West Virginia Area Health Education Centers.